Fourteen Year 9 and Year 10 students, accompanied by Miss Webb and Mr Jemson, are heading off to India for two weeks during July. The group will be exploring various interesting sites in Delhi, as well as a local orphanage. This will be followed by a trip to the Taj Mahal in Agra, and Jaipur.

The second half of their visit will be centred in Haryana and will focus on our partner schools. Students will visit Sant Nischal Singh School in Yamunanagar, where they will participate in lessons during the day and be hosted by families in the evenings. At Government Senior Secondary School in Baraunda, they will spend  time meeting students, refurbishing classrooms and also supporting teachers in the junior school.

We will post updates on their trip below.

Their blog can be followed here.

Update – Tuesday 12th July

This morning we woke up and ate a delicious breakfast at the hotel, there were even doughnuts. Then we travelled in our cars to Elefun where we petted, rode, painted, washed and fed the elephants. It was an amazing experience for us and one we will never forget. Later, we travelled back to the hotel and had some free time. A couple of us had a treatment in the spa and everyone else went in the pool. We had dinner and spent some time socialising in the evening. Tomorrow we visit the Amber Fort in Jaipur, before we head back to Delhi then up to the schools in Yamunanagar.

Update – Saturday 9th to Monday 11th July
The second day in Delhi included a rickshaw trip around Old Delhi and a visit to an orphanage where students met Father Ravi and spent time playing, reading and colouring with a number of street children. Greenshaw students also presented Father Ravi with gifts including games and books.

The tour moved on to Agra to visit the Taj Mahal and the Red Fort. The 4.00am get up and 5.00 train was also an interesting experience. The party moved on to Jaipur on Monday.

Update – Saturday 9th July

The party met at Heathrow for the eight hour over night flight to Delhi, arriving at 8.30am local time. Some managed a few hours sleep but many didn't! We moved into our accommodation (New Delhi YMCA Tourist hotel) and completed a training and safety test before starting a day of sight seeing. Lunch was enjoyed at a local canteen where students selected and bought their own meal from a 200 rupee (just over £2) budget. Visits to Gandhi's Memorial House and exhibition, India Gate and Dilli Hatt market completed the day. A swim, a meal in the hotel and bed at 8.30pm with lights out at 9.00pm completed an exhausting first day.